15 hobbies that will raise your IQ, according to science (2024)

Adam Frost'spractical, no-nonsense approachwill help youplan and build agarden that works for you. The Gardeners' World presentertakes you step by step through the whole process, fromsimple garden design ideasto a fullgarden makeover.

Isabelle Palmershows youhow to make the most of every little space with a series of projects forsmall gardens, singular containers and window boxes, that can be completed in a day or weekend. Perfect for novice gardeners,Modern Container Gardening offersbeautiful photography and clear step-by-step instructions.

The National Trust employs over 500 gardeners with anextraordinary wealth of expertise.And now, in thisin-depth guide, theypass on their wisdom and provide the answers any new and seasoned gardener is looking for. This book isintended to give you inspiration and confidence to make the most of your garden, without being overwhelmed withunnecessary technical detail.

Veg In One Bedexplains how tobuild your bed andgrow from seed, as well advice onplanting, feeding, and harvesting. YouTube gardening star Huw Richards shows how to guarantee early success by starting off young plants on a windowsill andsuggests what to grow in each part of the bed.

Monty Don offersstraightforward gardening advice in this book, revealingthe secrets of growing vegetables, fruits, flowers, and herbs, while respecting the needs of the environment by gardening organically.You can alsoenjoy a tour of hisHerefordshire garden, including his flower garden, herb garden, kitchen garden, and more.

The Practical House Plant Book by the RHScontains a dozen step-by-step projects to help you assemble an eye-catching terrarium, create a floating kokedama 'string garden', or propagate succulents.Complete with 175 in-depth plant profiles, this is anessential practical guide for indoor gardeners.

A small garden space – an urban patio, a tiny backyard, or even just a pot by your door –doesn't have to sacrifice style. InSmall Garden Style, garden designer Isa Hendry Eaton and lifestyle writer Jennifer Blaise Kramer show you how to use good design to create a joyful, elegant, and exciting yet compact outdoor living space.

Charles Dowding,innovator of no dig, teaches you everything you need to know about this method oforganic gardening.With 19 chapters, you'll learn how to use no dig on different soil types, recognise and massively reduce the different types of weeds, know the difference between soiland types of compost, and grow an abundance of vegetables using the no dig method.

Get all the inspiration you need for planting cut flowers, and fill your home with colour and the gorgeous scent of the garden year-round withIn Bloom.Clare Nolan reveals her secrets for growing a bountiful harvest as well as styling spectacular homegrown displays in this beautifully designed book.

The RHS'Complete Gardener's Manual will help you choose plants that will thrive in your space, design a border for year-round colour, grasp different pruning techniques, discover how to protect your veg patch from pests, andmake the best compost.

Do youwant to attract more bees, birds, frogs and hedgehogs into your garden? InWildlife Gardening for Everyone and Everything,Kate Bradburyteams up with the Wildlife Trusts and the RHS to help you discover how you can make your garden, balcony, doorstep or patio a haven for garden wildlife. You'll find handy charts, practical projects and fact files.

Gardener and TV presenterDavid Domoney is afirm believer that indoor plants can make 'a practical and emotional contribution to our wellbeing'. In this book, Davidexplains the hard science behind the positive effect of the humble houseplant on wellness, and provides expert tips on how to keep your plants thriving, plusshares histop 50 life-enhancing houseplants.

If you're looking for new garden ideas, theRHS Encyclopedia of Garden Design willguide you from planning to planting,such as choosing the correct materials for your structures and assessing your drainage, to laying patios, making ponds, and planting perennials.

Thisplanet-friendly book is filled with ideas for creating your own eco garden on any scale, from a small courtyard to a large garden or allotment.Discover organic techniques that improve biodiversity, learn the value of using recycled and reclaimed materials for landscaping, andtake on simpleprojects such asmaking a pondand a wildlife hotel.

Drawing on expert advice from the RHS, this best-selling referencebook –organised by colour, size, and type, rather than as an A-Z directory –will help you select the right varieties for your outdoor space.

Joyce and Ben Russell have devised 30 kitchen garden projects, devised to either extend the season, protect crops from pests or improve yields. Theseprojects transform your vegetable plot into somewhere more productive, more attractive and more secure.